The Exira-EHK School Board met Monday evening and held a Public Hearing on a Possible Early Start Calendar for the 2020-21 School Year. Superintendent Trevor Miller said he’s shared the calendar with the Board and Public prior to the hearing, and there were no comments in opposition.

(He said it’s an option the State still needs to approve, but assuming it is okayed, the first day of school would be Aug. 12.)

Miller said there were no changes in the fees this coming school year, other than those which were mandated by the government for a 10-cent increase on adult lunch meals and 5-cents to the breakfast meals.

And, the Exira-EHK Board approved some staff new hires.

(The Board approved the hiring of a husband & wife Spanish Exchange couple, pending approval of travel to the U-S. The Audubon School Board also approved the couple during their meeting on Monday. Also, Courtney Peppers was hired as Assistant Softball Coach.)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A 33-year-old Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison after admitting that he knowingly infected two women and one minor with HIV. Lamont James pleaded guilty Monday to six charges before he was sentenced. James admitted that he had physical contact with a 13-year-old girl and had sex with three women while he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The young girl and two of the women were infected while the third woman was not. James pleaded guilty to two counts of assault while participating in a felony, and four counts of criminal transmission of an infectious or contagious disease.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), reported multiple arrests took place over the past week. Sunday morning, 21-year old Ffram Thompson was arrested for OWI/1st offense and Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, following an investigation into a home invasion in the 27-thousand block of 240th Street. Just before midnight, Saturday, Pott. County Deputies arrested 41-year old Joseph Leeray Bartlett following a pursuit that took place during a traffic stop in Crescent. Bartlett faces charges that include Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender; Eluding; Reckless Driving, and Interference with Official Acts.

At around 8:20-a.m. Saturday, 30-year old Ashley Amanda Vore was arrested for unlawful possession of a prescription drug, following a welfare check. At around 12:30-a.m. Saturday, 28-year old Daniel R.C. Bailey, of Omaha, was arrested on Interstate 880, following an investigation into an abandoned vehicle. Bailey was charged with Absence from custody, Interference with Official Acts, Possession of Marijuana /1st offense, and Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $3,000.

Friday night, Pott. County Deputies arrested 35-year old Ian Robert Caldwell, of Crescent, on a felony charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or subsequent offense.  Earlier that same evening, 36-year old Nyatiem Tomas Tut was arrested after he and his vehicle were found in the median off I-880. Tut was charged with OWI/1st offense. 47-year old Daniel Lucien Page was arrested Friday morning in the parking lot of the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office. Page was taken into custody on warrants for OWI/1st offense and Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug.  And, Thursday night, 38-year old Jason Ewing Zarp was arrested following a disturbance in Underwood, for Child Endangerment with Substantial Risk, and (Simple) Domestic Abuse Assault

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening and passed a Resolution to set a Public Hearing for issuance of approximately $1.8-million in Sales Tax Refunding Bonds. Superintendent Dave Henrichs says the move would save the district thousands of dollars in interest fees.

(If the voters approve, the district will refinance its Sales Tax Bonds that was used for infrastructure improvements. It would save the district about $80,000 over the next 10-years.)

Henrichs said the next step in the process is a Public Hearing on June 15^th. At the hearing, the Board will discuss the reasons for issuing the bonds, followed by a period of time for petitions to be filed if anyone objects. Henrichs doesn’t expected that will the case, because it doesn’t cost the district anything, and saves money. There were numerous staffing changes made during Monday night’s meeting, beginning with the resignations.

There were also a couple of transfers.

And, there were a handful of new hires.

Henrichs says they’re only missing one Special Education assignment for next year, otherwise their certified staff are ready to go for the coming school year. Dave Henrichs said also, there are very few changes in the nutrition and lunch fees for next year. Activity pass fees remain the same. Last year the district started admitting Griswold students free to all home event. That’s unchanged as well. The Technology fee was changed last month from $40 per student to a $30 book fee per student.

A thorough investigation into illegal dumping May 1st  in Page County has resulted in the arrest on a man on a felony charge of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. The Page County Sheriff’s Office says 65-year old Thomas Harry Wagoner, of rural Clarinda, was booked into the Page County Jail and then posted bond in the amount of $5,000. He was released pending further court proceedings.

Thomas Harry Wagoner

Authorities say Page County Sheriff’s Office were contacted on May 1st by a citizen / landowner, in reference to several power poles / debris being dumped over and through a roadway fence on their property. The scene is approximately 5 and ½ miles north and west of Clarinda. During the investigation it was found that several old power poles and debris had been shoved through and over a fence owned by the Brooke family.

There were several tractor tire tracks that came from a property on the south side of J-20. That property is owned by Thomas and Debbie Wagoner. The tractor tire tracks then went across J-20, into the roadway ditch on the north side of J-20 to where the power poles / debris was dumped through / over the fence. There was debris / power poles left on both the roadway and field side of the fence.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Tuesday press conference on COVID-19. We will have live audio on KJAN as well with the press conference set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines has agreed to spend $75,000 to settle a lawsuit filed after an officer sprayed pepper spray at a 17-year-old girl and threw her to the ground at a downtown bus station. The City Council approved the settlement last week after it was accepted by attorneys representing Kimberly Williams and her children. Williams filed the lawsuit after a February 2018 incident at the downtown DART station, where Sgt. Greg Wessels and Williams’ teenager daughter began arguing after police tried to deal with a crowd of teenagers.

The Des Moines Register reports officers told the teens to leave but Williams’ daughter said she needed to catch her bus to go home. Wessels ultimately sprayed the teen with pepper spray and took her to the ground.

PELLA, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DCI report that on Monday, May 18th, officers with the Pella Police Department responded at around 8:20-p.m., to reports of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Glenwood Street. Upon arrival, officers found an unresponsive adult female. Police performed lifesaving measures, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The Pella Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Major Crime Unit are investigating this death as a homicide.

While no arrests have been made, law enforcement believes this to be an isolated incident with no threat to the public. Anyone with information concerning this investigation is asked to contact the Pella Police Department at 641-628-4921. The identity of the deceased female is being withheld pending notification of her family. Additional details will be released as they become available.

An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death will be conducted by the Office of the State Medical Examiner.